10 Times Rock Bands Drastically Changed Their Sound

4. Achtung Baby - U2

Across the '80s, U2 seemed to occupy an interesting space in the rock world. While being the descendants of the post punk world at the start of the decade, their incorporation of artful textures with the help of Brian Eno made them saviors of the rock world on albums like The Unforgettable Fire and the Joshua Tree. Once grunge came in and hit though, it wasn't a time for big rock stars anymore. It was time to let the irony sink in.

That's not to say that Achtung Baby is a huge departure in U2's original sound. On tracks like One and Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, you can still hear that adventurous band in there somewhere. However, the incorporation of more electronic soundscapes made for one of the most blatant character shifts in rock history, as Bono traded in his rock god pulpit for a caricature of the rock star life with the Fly.

For as much pushback as they could have gotten from something like this, Achtung Baby was the real spark that U2 needed to carry them into the next decade. Aside from trimming the fat off of their old sound, the newer ideas on display made for one of the most raw-nerved albums to be released that decade. Even though all signs pointed to U2 falling flat on their face, these Irish lads managed to embrace the darkness and come out with a hit anyways.